AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…

By Liberty Goodwin, Director

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

PROTECTING PETS - OUR FURRY & FEATHERED FRIENDS

AT THE TIP WEBSITE

See great info on pet safety at www.toxicsinfo.org/protectpets.htm: ASPCA List of Non-Toxic Plants, ASPCA List of Toxic Plants, List of Holistic Veterinarians, Pet Safe Plants Enhance Indoors, Poisons on Pets: Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products , Studies Show Pesticides are Dangerous to Pets, Can Killing Bugs Kill Our Pets?, Group Seeking System to Track Cancer in Pets, Healthy Pets, No Fleas, How to Plant a Cat-Safe Garden, Possible "Protecting Pets" Activities, Pet Poisoning, Protecting Pets from Toxics, Internet Links.

NATURAL FLEA CONTROL TIPS FROM FRIENDS

** There is a salt-based HOUSE treatment for fleas, the best I’ve found, called Fleago, to treat hardwood floors or carpeting. I ordered it from a natural pet care catalogue. A web search should find it.

**The garlic/brewer's yeast wafers you can buy for pets at most health food stores tend to help keep the fleas away.

**If the dog has short enough hair, you can use a flea comb (very fine-toothed) to comb the dog out regularly, dipping the comb into soapy water in between each pass through the dog's coat (the soapy water will kill the bugs).

**The key really is prevention, since fleas can multiply out of control really quickly. Fleago treatment of the house is a good preventative. I have tried many other home treatments and they rarely work. I think also a steam-cleaner would kill whatever was in the furniture and floors. It is supposed to kill dust mites, for example, and their eggs.

**We use brewer's yeast and garlic powder, sold at most pet stores like Petco. We’ve used it on our dog's food for more than three years. She has been in areas of heavy tick and flea infestation and gets no fleas and rarely a tick as long as we feed her one twice a day. She's 95 lb and a smaller dog would need less according to weight. It’s best to keep it refrigerated, as it seems to lose potency if you don't. Do not miss a day. If we missed one, she has gotten a couple fleas or ticks on her, but feeding her the brewer's yeast and garlic chases them off immediately.

**Once the fleas are in the house, I understand that you can use borax in your carpets, but be sure not to breath the dust when you vacuum. For sheets, wash them often and use borax in the wash. .

**Put a bowl of soapy water under a light at night. The fleas are attracted to the light (heat) and fall into the soapy water. Put the bulb right over the bowl.

**If the shampoo has diazinon or chlorpyrifos in it, get rid of it immediately. Pyrethrin is used by some people who are not sensitive. It's toxic, but breaks down quickly. Synthetic pyrethroids usually end in 'thrin' and are more persistant and toxic. I wouldn't use them.

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ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG)

HEALTH/TOXICS: PET HEALTH: www.ewg.org/featured/713

Research: 4.17.08 Polluted Pets, www.ewg.org/reports/pets

Related News Coverage: Pets Could Be Bellwether For Owners' Health; Pet News, Tips Are Aplenty and Right At Your Fingertips; Study Reveals 48 Chemical Pollutants Found In Pets,

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PETS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WEBSITE: www.petsfortheenvironment.org

PET FOOD: Eddie wants to test pet food for toxic industrial chemicals! Help by donating, or click here tell him which pet food he should test.

EDDIE’S HEALTHY PET TIPS: Our advice is always evolving as we research pet health, products, and toxic chemicals, so sign up today to be sure you get the latest updates and alerts.

Choose pet food without the chemical preservatives BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. Vary cats’ diets to limit exposure to mercury in seafood..

Use a reverse osmosis, faucet-mounted, or pitcher filter to remove contaminants before filling your pet’s water bowl.

Replace older foam pet bedding, and replace or reupholster furniture with exposed or crumbling foam, where flame retardants are found.

Vacuum often with a HEPA-filter vacuum. Take off your shoes at the door to minimize your pets’ exposure to toxic chemicals in house dust.

Don’t get stain-proof treatments on couches, carpets and car upholstery—they’re loaded with toxic perfluorochemicals.

Care for your lawn without using insecticides, which may cause nervous system damage in pets that walk on the treated lawn, eat the grass, or breathe in the chemicals.

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FOR THE BIRDS! TIPS FROM THE LONG ISLAND PARROT SOCIETY

Tel. (631) 957-1100 www.liparrotsociety.org/dangerous.htm,

This site highlights info from concerned bird lovers, about

dangerous products that may harm or kill your birds....

SOURCES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: Aerosol sprays; Asbestos, Radon; Lead dust from sanding lead-based paint; Art supplies, glue, correction fluid; Dry cleaning chemicals; Scented candles; Fabric deodorizers; Air fresheners: spray, solid, plug-in, powder; Shoe polish & waterproofing compounds; Pesticides; Heated, non-stick cookware and appliances such as Teflon®; Cleaning products; Furniture polish (Use lemon oil instead.); Moth balls; Pet dander, fur, feathers; Perfume, hair spray, cosmetics; Remodeling products.

SCENTED CANDLES. Birds have complex and sensitive respiratory systems, so don’t use scented candles in areas where birds are present. There have been reports of birds dying after exposure to scented or 'room freshening' candles. Household products are not routinely tested on birds, therefore can’t be certified as harmless to them.

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TIPS FROM THE “BIRD HOTLINE”: : www.birdhotline.com/comment.htm

OFF! INSECT REPELLENT. A friend held a Bourke's Grass Parakeet from Australia she planned to buy, washing her hands like always. In less than 5 minutes he was having a seizure. We soon realized it was from the OFF! she had sprayed on her shirt. Either he inhaled the vapors or nibbled on her shirt & ingested some. He had them for 24 hours.

"TEFLON®" on non-stick pans and self-cleaning oven is DEADLY! It does NOT have to burn to emit the toxic fumes - overheating them kills!

ARM & HAMMER PET FRESH CARPET DEODORIZER: “ My cockatiel died after I used it. Company admitted it's not recommended for use around birds. Said they didn't need to put a warning on the product. I'm just broken hearted, & her mate is just lost without her."

"FEBREZE" UPDATE: The active ingredient used to be Zinc Chloride - very dangerous to birds, though the label claimed to be safe around pets. Proctor & Gamble admit they didn’t think about birds, now say it is safe around birds if used "as directed". However, they recommend taking birds out of the room & ventilating before putting them back.

Liberty Goodwin is Director of the Providence-based Toxics Information Project (TIP). Contact her at: 401-351-9193 or liberty@toxicsinfo.org to submit a query or a TIP about healthier household choices. Visit TIP’s website: www.toxicsinfo.org for a wealth of info on keeping healthy in a toxic world. © 2008 Liberty Goodwin